Hamilton bides time in first win of season against Robbinsville

HAMILTON — Max Martine and the Hamilton High boys soccer team have battled patience this season as much as they have other opponents.

The Hornets knew that patience would be key yesterday as they hosted similarly winless Robbinsville. With both teams coming off tough games 24 hours earlier versus opponents from the Burlington County Scholastic League, the hope was that something would give for one of these Colonial Valley Conference foes.

After a one-goal overtime defeat Monday at Burlington Township, Hamilton was up to the task yesterday as it found the back of the net twice and played steady defense on the way to a 2-0 victory.

Martine proved to be one of the most patient.

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The sophomore midfielder/forward, who led the team with six goals a year ago, recorded his first tally of 2013 with 29:17 left in the second half when he connected on a lead from Joe Burns to give the Hornets an insurance tally.

“Joe crossed the ball, and it was bouncing around, so I decided to run through it,” Martine said. “It went to my feet right at the six(-yard mark), so I flicked it into the corner. Lucky bounce, I guess.”

Lucky or not, it was as much of a boost for the Hornets (1-3) as was their initial goal in the first half, when a Robbinsville back was whistled for a clip in the box and Hamilton earned a penalty kick. Senior tri-captain Jeff Meckel took the kick and put it past Ravens junior goalkeeper John Riggs at 23:51.

“It took us some time jelling together,” Martine said of the team, which had only scored two other goals in its first three games. “We’re trying to possess the ball a little more this season. Each game I think we’ve gotten a little better at it.”

Robbinsville (0-4), which came off a 1-0 loss Monday to Northern Burlington, appeared to be alright on offense, but the team’s youth was more evident on defense.

“This was a tough, physical game after another tough one yesterday. We’ve got a lot of young guys who are just not used to it,” said Ravens eighth-year head coach Jason Armstrong, who had two sophomores and two freshman on the backline.

“If they had fresh legs, I think they would have been even more trouble for us,” Hamilton fourth-year head coach Mark Laurenti said.

But with Riggs, a Trenton Catholic Academy transfer, making nine saves, the Ravens never let the Hornets out of their reach. Were it not for seven saves by Hamilton senior goalkeeper Brian Zarzecki and some hounding by the fullbacks in front of him, the game could have been tighter.

“I think this win will help us for our game Thursday and so on,” Martine said. “It gives us a little more confidence to know that we have the potential.”

The Hornets will see how they fare with a little more rest when they travel Thursday to West Windsor-Plainsboro High South for a 6 p.m. matchup. The Ravens have the tough task that same day of hosting defending Group III co-state champ Princeton at 4 p.m.